Tragic Plane Crash in Florida: Learjet 60 Crashes Near Mar-a-Lago, 9 Dead
A tragic aviation accident occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida, near the Cresthaven and Greenacres area, when a private twin engine Learjet 60 (tail number N722BD) crashed into a residential neighborhood. The flight had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, all 9 people on board were killed in the crash.
According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) logs, the pilots reported adverse weather, icing, and severe turbulence shortly before the crash and requested a climb to 37,000 feet. Moments later, a ‘Mayday’ emergency call was issued as the aircraft rapidly descended from 35,000 feet at extreme speeds. Upon crashing near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, the plane erupted into a massive fireball, leaving a large crater in the road and severing nearby power lines and water mains.
The crash site was located approximately 6 to 8 miles (10 to 14 km) from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the event as “cataclysmic,” noting that the aircraft descended rapidly like a missile. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a formal investigation to analyze flight data records, black box evidence, and wreckage to determine the precise cause of the crash.
